[UPDATED] Coach wants players in top leagues

TT finished the 2019 Vitality Netball World Cup in ninth place after a solid performance against Northern Ireland in the ninth place playoff at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, England, yesterday.

TT, ranked tenth in the world, defeated eighth ranked Northern Ireland 57-48 as goal shooter Samantha Wallace led they way converting 36 of 38 attempts. Kalifa McCollin was a perfect 20 from 20 and Tahirah Hollingsworth converted her only attempt.

For Northern Ireland, Noleen Armstrong ended with 24 goals from 28 attempts, Emma Magee did not have the best day finishing with 17 goals from 25 and Shaunagh Craig ended with seven goals from eight attempts.

McCollin, who recently got a professional contract to play in New Zealand, was satisfied with her performance.

“Personally, I had 100 per cent today, so I am really buzzing about that.

For me, it was just (about) being focussed and being able to play my game and do my job as a goal attack, and play with Sammy (Samantha) and just feed the balls into her.”

McCollin said there are a number of inexperienced players on the team and they would leave England contented.

“As a group (for) some of the girls this is their first world cup, so I think they really enjoyed it and they will go home pleased.”

TT coach Wesley Gomes is hoping more of his players get opportunities to play in competitive leagues to improve as a team. “Because of how our structure is in the Caribbean the only way we could do it is probably get the players in bigger leagues and develop them from there.”

Gomes wanted to finish higher saying, “It was a great experience. One of the our goals was to come in the first seven. We came ninth again, so we are not too unhappy with it.”

Ireland led 13-12 after the first quarter, but it was all TT after that.

TT had an impressive second quarter outscoring Northern Ireland 17-10 to led 29-23 at halftime.

The third quarter was more evenly balanced with TT still won 14-13, before sealing the match with a 14-12 win in the final quarter.

This story was originally published with the title "TT ninth in Netball World Cup" and has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

TT finished the 2019 Vitality Netball World Cup in ninth place after a solid performance against Northern Ireland in the ninth place playoff at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, England, earlier today.

TT, ranked tenth in the world, defeated eighth ranked Northern Ireland 57-48 as goal shooter Samantha Wallace led the way converting 36 of 38 attempts, Kalifa McCollin was a perfect 20 from 20 and Tahirah Hollingsworth converted her only attempt.

For Northern Ireland, Noleen Armstrong ended with 24 goals from 28 attempts, Emma Magee did not have the best day finishing with 17 goals from 25 and Shaunagh Craig ended with seven goals from eight attempts.

Ireland led 13-12 after the first quarter, but it was all TT after that. TT had an impressive second quarter outscoring Northern Ireland 17-10 to lead 29-23 at halftime.

The third quarter was more evenly balanced but TT still won 14-13, before sealing the match with a 14-12 win in the final quarter.